Peanut harvesting apparatus



April 1952 H. w. BEAVER PEANUT HARVESTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 HA ET$LL W BEAVER,

' IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY April 1952 H. w. BEAVER PEANUT HARVESTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 HAETSELL W BEA v52,

INVENTOR April 15, 1952 H. w. BEAVER PEANUT HARVESTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 m VR. Y 5 mm N 5 W m .1 m T L A L E m m H Y B Q WW A ril 15, 1952 H. w. BEAVER 2,593,383

PEANUT HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HARTSEL L. N BEAVER,"

INVENTOR.

A 7: TOPNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PEANUT HARVESTING APPARATUS Hartsell W. Beaver, Blakely, Ga., assignor to Turner Manufacturing Company, Statesville, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application January 5, 1949, Serial No. 69,279

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved peanut harvester wherein means are provided for picking up from the ground loose vegetation and relates more specifically to an improved elevating conveyor having specially designed teeth mounted on this elevating conveyor for picking up loose peanut plants from the ground which have already been removed from the ground.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wheeled framework having an upwardly extending endless elevating conveyor mounted thereon and said conveyor having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom, and the lower portion of the conveyor being adapted to be disposed in close proximity to the ground .whereby loose peanut vines which have been previously upturned by a plow or the like, may be picked up by the teeth and elevated by the elevating conveyor and then dumped at the rear portion of the wheeled framework.

, It is another object of this invention to provide in combination with the elevating conveyor a kicker drum for separating adhering soil from the peanut vines and the peanuts carried thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide means whereby the distance between the lower end of the elevating conveyor and the.

ground may be regulated, as desired.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the lefthand side of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale "and. is taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the righthand side of the wheeled framework;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail showing one of the teeth which picks up the loose vegetation from the ground and showing the manner in which it is secured to the elevating conveyor;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the tension means associated with the fingers which rest on the vegetation being elevated by the elevating conveyor. i

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals I and l l indicate right-hand and lefthand longitudinally extending frame bars, respectively, to which are secured, as by bolts l2, righthand and left-hand longitudinally extending draw bars [3 and I4, respectively. The front ends of these bars [3 and I4 have suitable holes therein by means of which they may be secured to two spaced points on a tractor, in the manner shown in the aforesaid patent application, or in any other suitable manner.

Secured to these frame bars l0 and H, as by bolts l are outwardly diverging right-hand and left-hand frame members I 6 and I! to which are secured as by bolts 18 parallel right-hand and lefthand longitudinally extending channel bars l9 and 20, respectively. Secured to and spanning the distance between the rear ends of the members I9 and :20 is a suitable frame bar 30. Secured in these longitudinal channel bars l9 and 20 are suitable tubular bearing members 2! and .22, respectively, in which are oscillatably disposed shafts 23 and 24, respectively, and the lower ends of these shafts 23 and 24 are forked as at 25 and 25, respectively, and the lower ends of these forked portions 25 and 26 have suitable axles '21 and 28, respectively, mounted therein. Mounted on these axles 21 and 28 are suitable ground wheels 3| and 32, respectively, for supporting the wheeled framework. Suitable collars 33 and 34 are disposed on the shafts 23 and 24 above and below the bearing members 2| and 22, respectively, and are secured to the shafts 23 and 24 as by set screws 35 and 35, respectively. Secured to the rear ends of the longitudinally extending members I I0 and H as by spot welding, are angle brackets and 46, respectively, and these angle brackets 45 and 46,.as well as the rear endsof the longitudinally extending members [0 and II, are spot welded to a horizontally disposed transverse frame member 50, and the outer ends of this frame member are spot welded to the longitudinally extending channel bars l9 and '23-.

Welded to and rising upwardly from the frame member 5|] is an upright U-shaped bracket '60 and a bolt 62 penetrates the member 60. Uprising spaced bars 64 and 64 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the bolt 62 and these uprising bars 64 and 64 have a plurality of notches 65 therein into which a suitable .pin 66 is adapted to fit, this pin 65 being mounted in and projecting from'both sides of a lever 61 which is disposed betweenthe bars 64 and 64' and has a'handle portion BB'at the upper end thereof. The bars: 84

channelmembers I5 and 20.

members of the elevating conveyorto-be laterw described.

Rising upwardly from the, rear-ends of thechannel bars I9 and 20, and at right angles thereto, are suitable upright angle bars SIl'and BI, respectively, which extend upwardly and:

have welded to their upper ends suitable diagonally disposed downwardly and forwardly extendingchannel members 92 and 93, respectively, and thelower forward endsof these diagonal channel members 92- and 93 are welded to the It will be noted that" the: upper ends of the bars 92 and 93 extend rearwardly beyond the point of connection with'bars- 95 andfi I.

Suitablysecured to the upper surfaces of 'the diagonally disposed frame members 92 and 93 are suitable support members 94 and 95, to which are' secured as by spot welding horizontally disposed spaced angle bars Stands-I. Mounted on the angle bars" 95 and 91 are suitable-bearing blocks; I03, inrwhich a suitable shaft IOI is retatably mounted' (Figures 1, 3, 4' and 6). The

frontl end of" the shaft IEII- is squared and is,

adapted tube-connected to the power take-01f of'a suitable'prime mover in themanner shown in.theaforesa-id-patentapplication.

Secured on the-upper end of the shaft IOI is a bevel gear I02; and this bevel gear I32 is adapted to, mesh with a larger bevel gear I03 mounted on, a suitable horizontall disposed shaft [04" mounted near one end in a bearing block. I05 whichis mounted on a bar I06 welded to and extending between the angle bars 96 and'i'l (Figures'l and 6). The right-hand end of this shaft I04 in Figure 6 is mounted in a bearing block I] supported by support member 95' and theshaft-Ifiid extends outwardly beyond; the bearing block I01 and has fixedly mounted thereon a-sprocket'wheel H0. Mounted on thesprocket wheel I I is a sprocket chain III which extends upwardly and is mounted on asprocket wheel" I12 fixedly mounted on a Totat'ablegshaft I I3 mounted in bearingblocks: 1 I4 and H5; mounted on: the diagonally disposed frame members 92 and; 93, respectively.

Welded to the longitudinally extending channelbar 20 is ;anpupwardlyextending bar I20; the upper endofwhich hasa closedslot ZI there.- in andashoulder bolt I22 is adjustably secured in-this=slot and has an idler roller I24 mounted thereon, the bolt. !22 havingalnutl23 for holding; the roller I24 in adjusted position to apply pressure on the upper reach of the sprocket chain III at all times. to take, up excess slack therein,

Secured. to each of the upwardly extendingdiagonalframe members 92 and .93 are bearings I30'and1i3i, respectively, in which is oscillatably mounted a. shaft I32, and,.this shaft I32 hashsecured thereto aplurality of upwardly extending pressure, fingers I33, the lower; ends of and these levers I33 are adapted to exert pressure on the vegetation which is being elevated by the elevating conveyor, since the free ends of the fingers I33 are urged toward the upper reach of the elevating conveyor by a torsion spring I34 disposed around the shaft I32 and having one end anchored in the angle bar 93 and its other end suitably anchored in an adjustable collar I35 adjus'tably secured on the shaft I32 as by a set screw I36.

Fixedly secured intermediate the ends of the shaft, H3 and disposed between the frame members 92 and 93 are sprocket wheels I40 and MI, on which are mounted sprocket chains I42 and I43, respectively;

It will be noted that the lower ends of the links I51 and'ifi are bent laterally as at I39 at their lower ends and project through holes in the right-hand and left-hand side frame members I44 and I45 of the elevating conveyor, to be presentlyI described. These side frame members I 44 and I45.-areadisposedbetween the channel; members I9 and: 2 0 and." each of: the, side iramermem: bers has secured to thelowerendthereof-a bearing broadly indicated: at L I 49, a, detail oftwhich is shown inFigureS; I

Each. of? the bearings I43 comprisesa' shoulderedz shaft. I 50 threaded at: eachend,- one, end

- the rollers I 55.

from the elevating-conveyor; to be later described,

of which-.isadapted to penetrate itsias'sociated side frame member otthe elevating, conveyor and this threaded: shait'w i552 also, penetrate; a suitable shield |5I,, mounted on the: outer; sides of and adjacent the: side. frame member of "the elevating conveyor. Mountedv to the outer. surface of eachshield. I5I isa suitable washer I52 which is alsopenetrated by the threaded; shaft I50 andthethreadedashaft I50 has-anut I53 disposed on theextreme left-hand end thereof, in

Figure 3 to sec 'rc itto its associated frame bar.

Disposed adjacent the right-hand side inlFigiure 3 of the side. framememberv I 44xof 'the' elevating' conveyor: is. a suitable bearing portion 'I54and rollers I are adapted to rotatedon this hearing portion I54. The bearing portion I54 hasalso loosely fitted therearound washers I55 and I51 at-each end of'the rollers l55; The threaded shaft I50 has a suitable lubricant passageway I51 I disposed in the center thereof and this lubricant passageway I5! extends'through the bearing'portion I54 and communicates with A suitable grease fitting I58 is mounted in the'right-hand end ofthe lubricant passageway in Figure3, and it-isthus seen thatlubricant may be applied to the roller bearings' I55 through the lubricant passageway I51.

Rotatablymounted on the rollers I55 is a suitable pulley I60 having an out-turned annular-fiange IBI at its left-hand end in Figure 3 and packing glands I62 and I59 are-provided to prevent the escape of lubricant from thebearing. Fitting against the right-hand end of the bearing portion I54 in Figure 3 is a lubricant sealing ring I63, and a washer I64 is-penetrated by the bolt- I50 and engages" the righthand portion of the lubricant sealing ring I63. A nut I65 is threaded onto the extreme right-hand endof-th'e threaded bolt I50, thereby'completing-the-structureof'the bearing I49. The-pulley I60 has" a suitable tubular liner IGS -secured therein,- as by a-pressed fit.

The sprocketchains I42 and I43 which. are mounted at'their upper ends on the sprocket wheels I43'and' I4I, pass around the pulley-l50 at theirlower ends; and; as will be-noted in Fig-ure 7, each of the sprocket chains I 42"and"l,43tiscom'- prised of a plurality of links I10 and certain spaced links are each provided with a right angular portion I1I to which is secured a horizontally disposed metallic bar I12, as by a screw I13. It will be noted in Figure 6 that the bars I 12 span the distance between the conveyor chain I42 and the conveyor chain I43 and each of the bars I12 is connected at opposite ends to these conveyor chains.

Welded by a clean weld to each of the bars I12 is a plurality of right-angularly shaped teeth I14 and it will be noted that the width of the free end of each tooth I14 is less than the width of the base portion of the tooth, since the two sides of each tooth converge toward each other. As a result of the teeth I14 being welded by a clean weld to the bars I12, it is impossible for vegetation to be snagged by a tooth and become imbedded on the same, but the vegetation will merely rest by gravity on the teeth I14. Due to the shape of the teeth I14, they easily shed the peanut plants nested therearound.

It is obvious that as the shaft IN is turned in a clockwise direction in Figure 6, rotation will be transmitted to the shaft I04 in a clockwise direction in Figure 4 through the bevel gears I02 and I03 which will transmit rotation to the sprocket wheel H in a clockwise direction in Figure 4, and thus clockwise rotation will be imparted to the sprocket wheel II2 through the sprocket chain II I in Figure 2. This will thereby transmit rotation to the shaft I I3 in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, which will cause the sprocket wheels I40 and HI to rotate in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, and this will cause the lower reaches of the sprocket chains to move downwardly toward the ground in Figure 2. It is thus seen that the teeth I14 on the bars I12 will be caused to move downwardly toward the ground with the lower reach of the conveyor chains I42 and I43, and will pick up vegetation from the ground and will then travel upwardly with the upper reach of the conveyor chains I42 and I43 after the same have passed around the pulleys I60 at the lowermost point of their travel. It is thus seen that vegetation will be elevated by the teeth I14 as the conveyor chains travel in a clockwise direction in Figure 2.

It is manifest that the position of the elevating conveyor relative to the ground may be regulated bv placing the pin 66 on the lever 61 in any desired notch 65 in the arms 64 and 64' in the manner heretofore described, for the reason that as t e position of the lever 61 is changed, the links 15 and 16 will be moved, thereby moving the side frame members I44 and I45.

It will be noted that each of the sid frame -members I44 and I45 of the elevating conveyors has a pair of uprising ears 205 secured thereto in which are mounted stub shafts 206 on which are mounted suitable idler pullevs 201 on which the conveyor chains I42 and I43 are adapted to ride. The shafts 206 are secured in position by having nuts, not shown, threaded on their inner ends.

It will be noted that each of the side frame members I 44 and M of the elevating conveyor haswelded to its upper end a tubular member 230 and also has an ear 23I welded thereto which is spaced slightlv to the ri ht of the tubular member 230 in Figure 5. Mounted within the tubular member 230 is a sliding shaft 232 and a suitable threaded shaft 233 is adapted to penetrate the ear 23I and to threadably penetrate the lower end of the shaft 232. A suitable lock nut 235 is threaded on the threaded shaft 233 to lock the shaft 233 in fixed position relative to the shaft 232. Disposed on the left-hand side in Figure 5 of the ear 23I is a lock nut 236 and dis-- posed on the right-hand side of the ear 23I is a lock nut 231, and it is thus seen that by means of the lock nuts 235, 236 and 231, the threaded shaft 233 is held in adjusted position. The upper end of the shaft 232 is notched and has a plate member 240 disposed in this notched portion. A bolt 24I penetrates the upper end of the shaft 232 and also the plate 240 and has a nut 242 threaded on its upper end in Figure 5. It will be noted in Figures 2 and 4 that the plates 240 are welded to the interior surfaces of the angle bars 92 and on the right-hand side of the wheeled framework and the angle bars 9| and 93 on the left-hand sideof the framework. It is thus seen that through adjustment of the threaded bolt 233 in the shaft 232 disposed within the tubular member 230, the distance between the upper ends of the side frame members I44 and I45 of the elevating conveyor and the plates 240 may be regulated, thereby allowing for regulation of the tautness of the conveyor chains I42 and 143.

Idler pulleys 208 (Figures 2 and 4) are rotatably mounted on stub shafts 209 secured adjacent the upper ends of side frame members I44 and I45 and support the lower reaches of conveyor chains I42 and I43.

As is seen in Figures 1 and 6, the shaft I I3 extends beyond the bearing member I I5 at its lefthand end and has fixedly secured thereon a sprocket wheel 220. Secured to the uprising angle bars 90 and 9| are bearings 250 and 25I, respectively, and a shaft 252 is mounted in these bearing blocks 25%! and 25L A sprocket wheel 253 is mounted on the shaft 252 and a sprocket chain 254 is adapted to pass around the sprocket wheel 253 on the shaft 252 at its lower end. The shaft 252 has a large circular drum 260 fixedly secured thereon and the exterior surface of the drum 260 has a plurality of right-angularly shaped members 26! secured thereto which form a plurality of projections on the exterior surface of the drum 260.

Now, in operation, the squared shaft MI will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction in Figure 6, as previously described, and rotation ina clockwise direction in Figure 2 will be transmitted to the shaft H3 as previously described, and the elevating conveyor chains will be caused to move downwardly and upwardly, as heretofore described, to thereby elevate vegetation from the ground in the manner heretofore described. Now, as the shaft II 3 rotates in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, the sprocket wheel 220 mounted on the shaft I I3 will be caused to rotate in a like direction and thereby the sprocket wheel 253 will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, through the sprocket chain 254. It is thus seen that the drum 250 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 4, which will cause the projections 26I on the drum 250 to travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the teeth I14 on the lower reach of the elevating conveyor.

Now, as a row of teeth I14 reaches the uppermost point of their travel, that is around the sprocket wheels #40 and MI, the vegetation will be caused to drop off the teeth I14 to the right in Figure 2. Now, any vegetation which may still be disposed on the teeth I14 as the teeth begin their downward movement, will be engaged by :teeth H4.

permost point of their travel, will be engaged by the projections 26Iand thereby forced off the This drum 260 with the projections 2.6I thereon thereby prevents any vegetation from being carried back with the teeth I74 to the lowermost point of travel of the teeth lid.

The vegetation as it is discharged from the teeth H4 and the projections 26! on the drum 2.6.0, will fall by ravity onto any suitable support, such asthat shown in the aforesaid patent application, or into a suitable container, not shown.

.It is thus seenthat there has been provided a tion, the scope of the invention being defined in v the claims.

' Iclaim:

' 1, An improvement in apparatus for picking up vegetation from the ground, such as peanut vines which have been excavated from the ground having a wheeled frame provided with an endless conveyor inclined upwardly and rearwardly and havingits lower front end adjacent the ground over which the wheeled frame travels,

said conveyor having a pair of spaced sprocket chains and a plurality of transverse bars extending between the sprocket chains and each bar having a plurality of teeth secured thereto, said improvement comprising each tooth being L- shaped to provide a base portion and a piercing.

portion, the piercing portion having two opposed side edges sloping towards each other at identical acute angles and each tooth having its outer end parallel to the base portion to provide a truncated isosceles triangle.

2. An improvement in apparatus for picking conveyor comprising, a pair of. spaced sprocket chains and a plurality of transversely disposed bars secured at'their ends to the sprocket chains and each bar having a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting teeth secured thereto, said improvement comprising the teeth being in the form of a truncated isosceles triangleto thereby assist in shedding of all vegetation therefrom.

3. An improvement in an apparatusfor picking up loose vegetation on the ground such as peanut vines which havebeen excavated from the ground, having a main frame and a superstructure mounted on the mainframe and having a shaft rotatably mounted in the uppermostportion thereof and having a pair of side bars pivoted at their upper ends on said superstructure and extending downwardly and forwardly and having a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on said shaft and an idler pulley mounted in the lower end of each of said side bars and having sprocket chains mounted on each of the two sprocket wheels on the said shaft at their upper ends and mounted on the idler pulleys in the lower ends of said side bars and having means for adjusting the position of the lower ends of the side bars relative to the ground, said improvement comprising each of said sprocket chains having a plurality of spaced transversely disposed bars secured thereto and each bar having a plurality of spaced outwardly extending tapered :blunt ended teeth thereon, each tooth having a base'portion secured to-the bar and disposed at right angles to the teeth, and each of theside edges of the teeth defining identical acute angles with the base portion thereof whereby rotation of the conveyorsto cause its upper and forward reach tomove. upwardly will cause the teeth to pick up vegetation from the ground and convey-.it-upwardly and rearwardly relative to the main. frame as it travels over the ground.

HARTSELL W. BEAVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the Number Name Date 43,964 Atwater Aug. 30, .1864 660,944 Bowen Oct. 30,. 1900 669,908 Williams Mar. 12, 1901 972,910 Pippen Oct. 18, 1910 1,251,425 Rogers et al Dec. 25, 1917 1,313,880 Clausen Aug. 26, 1919 1,319,724 Pelton 1 Oct. 28, 1919 2,361,304 Mappin 1 Oct. 24, 1944 2,477,389 Oehler ,et al July 26, .1949 2,499,051 Beaver 1,. Feb .28, 1950 

